Burns patients get free treatment at Airoli

Shaheen Nusrat (name changed), 27, was seven months pregnant when a fire at her Bhiwandi house two years ago left her with 70 per cent burn injuries.

She delivered her child but it died soon after delivery.

She had sustained injuries to her neck, face and hands.

When she was brought to the recent surgical camp at the National Burns Centre in Airoli, she did not have much hope.

But, after corrective surgeries in three camps, Nusrat has recovered to a great extent.

The ‘Operation Restore’ camp is conducted at the Airoli centre by Rotary Club of District 3140 thrice a year.

The free surgical camp for burns victims across the country has been helping burn victims all over the country for the last six years.

“The aim of organising the camp is to provide assistance to those victims who cannot afford treatment at hospitals. We treat patients for free and provide complete treatment including pre-operative screening, corrective surgery and post-operative care,” said Vishnu Kamat from Rotary Club of Deonar.

They provide tickets to patients and their relatives who come from other cities.

In the recent camp, 39 patients were treated.

Dr Sunil Keswani, director of Nation Burns Centre, said, “The burn deformities surgery at Operation Restore is being conducted by a team of volunteer doctors, including surgeons, anaesthesiologists and nurses. The surgeries take about 4 to 5 hours and patients are given around four weeks of post-operative care.”

The camp was initially conducted only once a year. But, doctors realised that some patients needed a follow-up, for which they waited an entire year.

The hospital said patients are chosen for the camp after a screening process to gauge whether they are fit for surgery.

The screening is done on Tuesdays and Fridays between 1pm and 3pm at the National Burns Centre.

Patients can contact Dr Shilpa Karnik of the Airoli hospital on 022-27793333 or Vishnu Kamat on 9820281068.